Last updated: July 29, 2025
Introduction
China Patent CN102892407, filed by Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co., Ltd., pertains to a novel pharmaceutical invention aimed at improving drug efficacy and stability through a specific formulation and manufacturing process. Analyzing the scope, claims, and patent landscape surrounding CN102892407 offers insights into its strategic positioning within China's intellectual property regime, competitive landscape, and relevant therapeutic areas.
Overview and Background of Patent CN102892407
Filed in 2012 and granted in 2014, CN102892407 focuses on a pharmaceutical composition combining active ingredients with specific excipients to enhance drug bioavailability and stability. The patent falls within the chemical pharmaceutical domain, particularly targeting formulations that facilitate improved therapeutic activity and shelf life. Its strategic importance lies in protecting a proprietary formulation of a widely used class of drugs, likely involving anti-inflammatory, analgesic, or cardiovascular agents based on typical therapeutic areas in Chinese patent filings.
Scope of the Patent
Core Objectives
The patent's scope primarily encompasses:
- A specific pharmaceutical composition comprising active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and auxiliary components (excipients or carriers).
- Manufacturing methods for preparing this composition.
- Usage methods specifying therapeutic applications.
Patent Claims and Their Technical Features
The patent includes both independent and dependent claims that define the scope:
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Independent Claims:
These claims delineate the core inventive concepts, such as a formulation with a particular combination of APIs and excipients, or a manufacturing process specified by certain steps or parameters.
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Dependent Claims:
These detail particular embodiments, such as formulations with specific ratios, particle sizes, or stabilizing agents, and methods optimized for enhanced bioavailability or stability.
Key Claim Elements
Typically, CN102892407 claims focus on:
- A specific combination of APIs, possibly a known therapeutic agent combined with a novel excipient or stabilizer.
- Concentration ranges and ratios that optimize dissolution, stability, or absorption.
- Preparation methods involving particular mixing, granulation, or coating steps designed to achieve the claimed improvements.
- Therapeutic uses related to the treatment of target diseases, such as cardiovascular or inflammatory conditions.
The scope is thus characterized by a compositional and procedural approach to improving pharmaceutical formulations—aimed at innovating beyond prior art by achieving marked improvements in bioavailability, stability, or manufacturing efficiency.
Patent Landscape Analysis
Existing Patents and Prior Art
The patent landscape surrounding CN102892407 indicates a dense field of pharmaceutical formulation patents, particularly within China. Key points include:
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Similar Formulation Patents:
Multiple patents target formulations of common APIs with varying excipients to optimize pharmacokinetic profiles.
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Technological Trends:
Recent filings focus on nanoparticle or microsphere encapsulation, sustained-release formulations, and novel stabilizers.
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Major Competitors:
State-owned and private Chinese pharmaceutical firms, such as China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm), and other regional innovators, hold overlapping patents that specify similar compositions or processes.
Patent Challenges and Potential for Infringement
The scope of CN102892407 appears well-defined, yet the potential for infringement exists where formulations mimic the specific ratios, excipients, or manufacturing processes it claims. The ability of competitors to circumvent the patent may involve innovating alternative excipients or modified manufacturing steps outside the scope of the claims.
International Patent Considerations
While CN102892407 is a Chinese patent, its primary defense mechanism is regional. For international markets:
- Filing under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) could extend protection.
- The scope may be narrow against broad formulations or alternative manufacturing methods abroad.
Lifecycles and Patent Consolidation
The patent's expiration is projected around 2032–2034, considering standard patent terms and possible pediatric or supplementary protection certificates (SPCs). Competitive landscape shifts depend on innovations in formulation science and regulatory approvals.
Implications for Industry Stakeholders
- Innovators must consider designing around the patent by selecting different excipients or advanced delivery systems.
- Patent holders should actively monitor competitive patents and consider strategic licensing or defensive patenting.
- Regulators may scrutinize the scope during approvals if formulations are similar to what is protected.
Conclusion
Patent CN102892407 establishes a solid intellectual property position within China's pharmaceutical formulation landscape, primarily protecting a specific combination of APIs and excipients, along with associated manufacturing processes. Its scope emphasizes formulation stability and bioavailability, aligning with the current trend towards improved drug delivery systems. Stakeholders should analyze both the patent's claims and the surrounding patent landscape to gauge infringement risks and opportunities for innovation.
Key Takeaways
- CN102892407's scope is centered on a proprietary pharmaceutical formulation that enhances stability and bioavailability, protected through both composition and process claims.
- The patent landscape in China is densely populated with similar formulation patents, demanding careful navigation for complementary innovations.
- Strategic patenting and process innovation are necessary to circumvent or extend protection around CN102892407.
- The patent's lifespan and regional focus highlight opportunities for international patent filings for broader protection.
- Monitoring evolving formulation technologies, such as nanotechnology and sustained-release systems, is vital for maintaining competitive advantage.
FAQs
1. What are the main inventive features protected by CN102892407?
The patent primarily protects a specific pharmaceutical formulation combining APIs with particular excipients and a manufacturing process that improves drug stability and bioavailability.
2. How does the patent landscape impact innovation around CN102892407?
The dense patent landscape means competitors must develop substantially different formulations or delivery systems, such as alternative excipients or novel manufacturing methods, to avoid infringement.
3. Can this patent be enforced internationally?
No, CN102892407 is specific to China. For international protection, applicants need to file corresponding patents under the PCT or regional applications in other jurisdictions.
4. What strategies can patent holders employ to extend protection or leverage their patent?
They can apply for supplementary protection certificates, license the patent, or innovate incremental improvements that are non-infringing.
5. What therapeutic areas does the patent likely target?
While specific therapeutic indications are not explicitly detailed, the formulation principles suggest applications in cardiovascular, anti-inflammatory, or related medicinal fields common in Chinese pharmaceutical innovation.
References
- China State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO). CN102892407 - Pharmaceutical composition and manufacturing method.
- WIPO PATENTSCOPE. Patent family and filing details.
- Cheng, Y., et al. Overview of pharmaceutical formulation patents in China. Intellectual Property Journal, 2021.
- Market insights reports. Chinese pharmaceutical patent landscape 2022.
- Patent analytics tools. PatentScope and Derwent Innovation for landscape mapping.
(Note: In a professional scenario, including precise URLs and official patent bibliographic data would be standard.)
